Power rankings: Pac-12, WCC, MWC men's basketball, Edition 8

Considering how closely bunched many of the teams from the Pac-12, Mountain West and West Coast conferences are, this season has largely gone as expected. All 11 teams currently projected to make the NCAA Tournament by either ESPN or CBS Sports were ranked in the top 15 of the initial set of these power rankings Nov. 21.
Let's look more closely at the teams from the Pac-12, WCC and MWC that have pleasantly surprised and the teams that have disappointed before we get to the top 15 teams.
Here is Edition 8 of the Pac-12/WCC/MWC power rankings (games through Feb. 27)

Most positive surprises

Associated Press

1. San Diego State: Picked to finish fourth in the MWC preseason media poll, was initially ranked generously at No. 9 in these power rankings and did not even receive a single preseason vote in either the AP Top 25 or USA Today Coaches Poll.

3. Pepperdine: Picked to finish last (10th) in the WCC preseason coaches poll, is currently fifth in the conference.

4. Nevada: Picked to finish ninth in the MWC, is currently tied for fourth.

5. Stanford: Picked to finish sixth in the Pac-12, is currently tied for third.

6. Utah: Although the Utes are roughly where they were predicted to be in the Pac-12 standings, they have been far more competitive generally than most expected. Utah's total annihilation of BYU was a stunner.

Most disappointing surprises

Associated Press

1. Utah State: Based on preseason polls versus current conference standings, Utah State has been the most disappointing team from among these three conferences. Picked to finish fifth in the MWC, the Aggies are currently second-to-last (10th place) in the conference.

2. Oregon: Oregon was a positive surprise through non-conference play but has been a major disappointment in Pac-12 play. The Ducks were projected to finish fourth in the conference but currently sit tied for seventh with Utah, Oregon State and Washington.

3. UNLV: Although the Rebels are third in the MWC, their season as a whole has been a disappointment. They would have been ranked No. 37 in the preseason AP poll if it had extended that far, but the Rebels are in a position now where they will have to win their conference tournament to have any shot at the Big Dance.

4. Loyola Marymount: Picked to finish sixth in the WCC, the Lions are currently dead last (10th) in the standings.

5. Boise State: Most had Boise pegged as an NCAA Tournament team in the preseason and the Broncos would have been ranked No. 32 in the preseason AP poll if it had extended that far. While Boise is only currently two spots below preseason projections in the MWC standings, the Broncos have no shot at an at-large NCAA Tournament bid.

6. BYU: Based on preseason predictions, BYU has not disappointed. The Cougars received no votes in the preseason AP Top 25 poll and were picked to finish second in the WCC, and that is exactly where they currently are. Considering how impressive the team looked early in the season, racking up losses to the likes of Loyola Marymount, Pepperdine, Portland and Pacific lands the Cougs on the disappointing list. Even after recent wins over Saint Mary's and Gonzaga, BYU is still left out of the NCAA Tournament in the latest CBS Sports (Jerry Palm) projections.